Welcome to Trailer Snark, a weekly column covering trailers for movies that will be released this week with thoughts from our roster of bloggers (Jessica from The Female Perspective, Ken from The Crank File, Jim from The Front Row View, Eric from View from Above, Robert from Cards and Counters, Wayne from The Dope Sheet, and Great Stories founder Chris). Thanks for reading, and enjoy the previews!

The Hitman’s Bodyguard (Lionsgate) – Action/Comedy
Rated R for strong violence and language throughout
Tag Line: Never let him out of your sight. Never let your guard down. Never fall in love.
Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Ryan Reynolds, Salma Hayek
Plot: The world’s top bodyguard gets a new client, a hit man who must testify at the International Court of Justice. They must put their differences aside and work together to make it to the trial on time.
Running Time: 118 minutes

Chris: A mildly amusing comedic action romp. But not enough to get me to shell out the cashola. Guess they are going to have to pry it from my cold dead fingers. Just call me 251.Wayne: I’m buying this trailer. Dark comedy. Two quality actors familiar with comedy and action. Looking forward to seeing this one.

Logan Lucky (Bleecker Street Media) – Comedy
Rated PG-13 for language and some crude comments
Tag Line: See how the other half steals.
Starring: Channing Tatum, Adam Driver, Daniel Craig
Plot: Two brothers attempt to pull off a heist during a NASCAR race in North Carolina.
Running Time: 119 minutes

Chris: Daniel Craig really pulled off that southern accent with skill. Color me surprised! Logan may be lucky enough to get me in a theater seat.Wayne: Looks like a fun comedy. Going to get a lot of NASCAR fans going to this one. Looking forward to seeing Craig in a comedic role.

Gook (Samuel Goldwyn Films) – Drama
Not Rated
Tag Line: None
Starring: Simone Baker, Justin Chon
Plot: Eli and Daniel, two Korean American brothers, own a struggling shoe store and have an unlikely friendship with Kamilla, a street wise 11-year-old African American girl. Kamilla ditches school, Eli stresses about the store, and Daniel tries to have a good time. It’s just another typical day at the store until the Rodney King verdict is read and riots break out. With the chaos moving towards them, the trio is forced to defend the store while contemplating the future of their own personal dreams and the true meaning of family.
Running Time: 94 minutes

Chris: One of the biggest stories of the LA riots triggered by the Rodney King chase and beating (which occurred when I was a freshman in college) was the relationship between the Black and Korean communities in the city. That, in itself, makes this a very interesting human interest piece for me.Wayne: With all going on in the world right now, I’m going to sell this trailer. Looking for more upbeat stories.

Lemon (Magnolia Pictures) – Comedy/Drama
Not Rated
Tag Line: None
Starring: Inger Tudor, Brett Gelman, Judy Greer, Michael Cera
Plot: A man watches his life unravel after he is left by his girlfriend of 10 years.
Running Time: 83 minutes

Chris: Looks a little too offbeat, awkward, and Michael Cera for my liking.Wayne: Selling this movie. There is only so much downward spiral stories one can take.

6 Days (Icon Films) – Action/Drama/History
Rated R for violence and language
Tag Line: None
Starring: Abbie Cornish, Jamie Bell
Plot: In April 1980, armed gunmen stormed the Iranian Embassy in Princes Gate, London and took all inside hostage. Over the next six days a tense standoff took place, all the while a group of highly trained soldiers from the SAS prepared for a raid the world had never seen the likes of.
Running Time: 94 minutes

Chris: Riveting and intense trailer. Count me in.Wayne: Looks interesting. Might be a rainy day film to catch. I buy this trailer.

Tickets Purchased: One for Logan Lucky (Wayne) and one for 6 Days (Chris)

Welcome to Trailer Snark, a weekly column covering trailers for movies that will be released this week with thoughts from our roster of bloggers (Jessica from The Female Perspective, Ken from The Crank File, Jim from The Front Row View, Rob from Spector for Hire, and Great Stories founder Chris). Thanks for reading, and enjoy the previews!

Kong: Skull Island (Warner Bros) – Adventure/Fantasy
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, and for brief strong language.
Tag Line: Awaken the King.
Starring: Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L Jackson
Plot: A team of scientists, soldiers and adventurers unites to explore an uncharted island in the Pacific. Cut off from everything they know, the team ventures into the domain of the mighty Kong. As their mission becomes one of survival, they must fight to escape a primal Eden.
Running Time: 120 minutes

Jessica: It’s ALL about King Kong for me this week so I can’t even deal with any of these other silly films. 😉 Jim: JL, I wholeheartedly share your enthusiasm. The original ’33 King, to me, is still the greatest adventure film of all time (I even like Son of Kong and the original Mighty Joe Young) and Peter Jackson’s remake was pretty awesome. The original just gets better every time I see it. Seeing this one on Wednesday, can’t wait! Great cast, good trailer (although shows a bit too much). The other movies just don’t have a chance. Chris: I’d love to play Devil’s Advocate here, but the moment I saw this trailer I knew I needed to make it a priority to witness it in all of it’s Big Screen glory!

The Ottoman Lieutenant (Paladin) – Drama/War
Rated R for some war violence
Tag Line: In a land on the brink of war the most dangerous place to be is in love.
Starring: Michiel Huisman, Ben Kingsley, Josh Hartnett
Plot: The Ottoman Lieutenant is a love story between an idealistic American nurse and a Turkish officer in World War I.
Running Time: 106 minutes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZ9TZlyQSJMJim: ZZZZZZ Chris: Certainly looks better than the Ben Kingsley film we looked at here two weeks ago, but not good enough to drag me to the theater. Jessica: Nope, not KK.

Jessica: Unless they’re buying GIANT shoes for Kingy Kongy, I’ll pass! Jim: I liked Clouds of Sils Maria, looks interesting (I’m waiting for Kristen Stewart jokes from SOMEbody). Chris: I suggest a cross-over film where King Kong visit Paris and eats Kristen Stewart, downing her with a glass of wine, while the Ottoman Empire rises and invades Western Europe. I think that covers a combination of all this week’s previous trailers and delivers Jim from disappointment.

The Sense of an Ending (CBS Films) – Drama
Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, a violent image, sexuality and brief strong language
Tag Line: Unravel the truth.
Starring: Jim Broadbent, Charlotte Rampling, Harriet Walter
Plot: A man becomes haunted by his past and is presented with a mysterious legacy that causes him to re-think his current situation in life.
Running Time: 108 minutes

Chris: This one actually caught me by surprise. Refreshingly understated reflective mystery. Jessica: I sense an ending with a GIANT APE. Jim: Maybe worth a rental ’cause of the premise.

Jim: ZZZZZZ part two. Chris: Two minutes…..all it took to put me to sleep. Probably the darkest (literally) trailer I have ever seen. Jessica: If the other half of the other half isn’t Kong, I’ll pass.

The Dark Below (Parade Deck Films) – Thriller
Not Rated
Tag Line: Silence is the most powerful scream.
Starring: Lauren Mae Shafer, Veronica Cartwright
Plot: A woman struggles for survival beneath a frozen lake while a serial killer stalks her from the surface.

Jessica: I came up with lots of jokes that are not printable so I’ll just say, not Kong, not for me! Jim: Looks pretty intense, whatever it is. Veronica Cartwright, wow! Chris: Love the concept. Cat and very wet mouse.

Welcome to Trailer Snark, a weekly column covering trailers for movies that will be released this week with thoughts from our roster of bloggers (Jessica from The Female Perspective, Ken from The Crank File, Jim from The Front Row View, Rob from Spector for Hire, and Great Stories founder Chris). Thanks for reading, and enjoy the previews!

Jim: Yet another example of “Just because the original was good and made a ton of money doesn’t mean we need to see it again.”Chris: The first movie was quite good, but I find this particular property’s sequels to be completely unnecessary. They’ve gone to the well too many times (those of you who have seen the original will appreciate the pun). 😉Jessica: I really found the first round of Rings kind of boring. Not scary at all. I need more from my horror films than a creepy dirty kid in a well.

The Space Between Us (STX Entertainment) – Adventure/Drama/Romance
Rated PG-13 for brief sensuality and language
Tag Line: What’s your favorite thing about Earth?
Starring: Gary Oldman, Asa Butterfield, Carla Gugino
Plot: The first human born on Mars travels to Earth for the first time, experiencing the wonders of the planet through fresh eyes. He embarks on an adventure with a street smart girl to discover how he came to be.
Running Time: 120 minutes

Jessica: I wanted to like this movie because I mean, come on GARY OLDMAN. But no. No thank you very much. Still, GARY OLDMAN. I love him.Jim: MMMMnnnnaaaah. Too many genres raided that we’ve been to before.Chris: This one has Valentine’s Date Movie written all over it. Something for everyone. Pretty good twist on the space travel genre of movie.

Chris: Compelling look at a very painful era in our history. Not big screen material for me however.Jessica: Yes. Yes. 100 times yes. This looks amazing. And is a story people need to see these days. Remember what this country was built on; protesting, speaking out for what is right, letting your voice be heard. This is my pick of the week, without a doubt.Jim: NOW we’re cookin’! What thought-provoking images and ideas! And, yes, timely.

Tickets purchased: Two for I Am Not Your Negro (Jim and Jessica) and one for The Space Between Us (Chris).

Welcome to Trailer Snark, a weekly column covering trailers for movies that will be released this week with thoughts from our roster of bloggers (Jessica from The Female Perspective, Ken from The Crank File, Jim from The Front Row View, Rob from Spector for Hire, and Great Stories founder Chris). Thanks for reading, and enjoy the previews!

Last Week: Finding Dory took first place for the third week in a row! The popular sequel made another $41.9M for a total domestic haul of $372.2M to date. The next three spots were occupied by films making their debut. The Legend of Tarzan was the runner-up with $38.1M, followed by The Purge: Election Year at $30.8M and The BFG at $19.5M. Independence Day 2 closed out the top five with another $16.5M to add to its $72.6M total. The rest of the top ten was as follows: Central Intelligence ($12.3M/$91.7M), The Shallows ($9M/$35.2M), Free State of Jones ($4.1M/$15.1M), The Conjuring 2 ($3.8M/$95.2M), and Now You See Me 2 ($2.9M/$58.6M). Let’s take a look at this week’s new entries.

The Secret Life of Pets (Universal) – Family/Comedy
Rated PG for action and some rude humor
Tag Line: Ever wonder what your pets do when you’re not home?
Starring: Kevin Hart, Jenny Slate, Albert Brooks, Lake Bell
Plot: A terrier named Max regularly invites his friends to hang out at his place while his owner is gone, but his quiet life is upended when said owner also takes in Duke, a stray mutt whom Max instantly dislikes.
Running Time: 90 minutes

Jessica:Looks cute, I’m not a huge fan of kids movies, but I’d probably watch this at home.Chris:I am all over this one. Haven’t been this excited by a kid’s film in ages. Trailer had me in stitches.Jim: Trailers for this have been shown at just about every kids movie since Christmastime—it’s still funny, definitely a go this weekend.Ken: Adorable and hysterical. Any trailer that uses System of a Down is a winner in my book.

Ken:This movie looks dumb as…..Jessica: Eh. This is one of those comedies that could be really good or being really, REALLY bad. Again, a home viewer (if that).Chris: OK, maybe I am just inclined to amusement this week, but this looks like another laughfest. Likely won’t be a theater view, but I’ll be looking for it on the small screen.Jim: A good premise made to look crass and obnoxious.

Captain Fantastic (Bleecker Street Media) – Drama
Rated R for language and brief graphic nudity
Tag Line: He Prepared Them For Everything Except The Outside World
Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Steve Zahn
Plot: In the forests of the Pacific Northwest, a father devoted to raising his six kids with a rigorous physical and intellectual education is forced to leave his paradise and enter the world, challenging his idea of what it means to be a parent.
Running Time: 118 minutes

Jim:Viggo seldom disappoints—this looks heartfelt and absorbing.Ken:This screams counter culture and I love it. Probably won’t score big with the mainstream but I’ll definitely be checking this out.Jessica:Okay, this one got me. I’ll admit to being sold when I saw Viggo’s name, I mean, you cannot go wrong with Lord Aragorn in anything. The trailer made me laugh and cry so to me that’s a good signChris:Could it be three winners in a row? Might be tough finding this limited release film in theaters, but this film about a man who attempts to raise his family off the grid only to have them forced back into society looks compelling and heartfelt.

Cell (Saban Films) – Horror/Thriller
Rated R for disturbing violent content, terror, brief sexuality and language
Tag Line: When everyone is connected, no one is safe.
Starring: Samuel L Jackson, John Cusack
Plot: When a mysterious cell phone signal causes apocalyptic chaos, an artist is determined to reunite with his young son in New England.
Running Time: 98 minutes

Chris:I love Stephen King and will watch any adaptation of his novels. This one took a long time to land a distributor, which is a concern.Jim:I’m a Stephen King fan, so I should be looking forward to this. The book was good— one would hope for a Carrie or Shawshank Redemption. This looks too much like a run of the mill zombie flick though, so I might end up disappointed.Ken:The premise is terrible but the execution looks tremendous. Pop culture is already overly saturated with zombies, do we really need one more?Jessica:This is one of my all-time least favorite Stephen King books (and I love King) so I am less than excited about this one. It might be a home watch if I’m forced to see it.

Tickets Purchased: Three for The Secret Life of Pets (Ken, Jim, and Chris) and One for Captain Fantastic (Jessica)

Welcome to Trailer Snark, a weekly column covering trailers for movies that will be released this week with thoughts from our roster of bloggers (Jessica from The Female Perspective, Ken from The Crank File, Jim from The Front Row View, Rob from Spector for Hire, and Great Stories founder Chris). Thanks for reading, and enjoy the previews!

Last Week: Who would’ve thunk it (sic)? Our prediction of Star Wars owning the box office came true. Pats on the back all around for our deft forecasting and dark horse pick! LOL. OK, now we can get serious. The Force Awakens shattered records far and wide with $238M. Incredible. Hard to believe that there were still enough other movie-goers left to give any biz to the other films that had the misfortune of competing, but there were. Two other films debuted in the top five this week including Alvin and the Chipmunks at number two ($14.4M) and Sisters at number three ($13.4M). Not much else to note about the rest of the list, so lets move on to this week’s Christmas releases!

The Hateful Eight (Weinstein Company) – Drama/Thriller
Rated R for strong bloody violence, a scene of violent sexual content, language and some graphic nudity
Tag Line: No one comes up here without a good damn reason.
Starring: Samuel L Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh
Plot: In post-Civil War Wyoming, bounty hunters try to find shelter during a blizzard but get involved in a plot of betrayal and deception. Will they survive?
Running Time: 168 minutes

Joy (Fox 2000) – Comedy/Drama
Rated PG-13 for brief strong language
Tag Line: None
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Robert DeNiro, Bradley Cooper
Plot: Joy is the story of a family across four generations and the woman who rises to become founder and matriarch of a powerful family business dynasty.
Running Time: 124 minutes

Jessica:Eh. I like the people in it but the story does nothing for me.Chris:Yawn……next!

Point Break (Warner Bros) – Action/Crime
Rated PG-13 for violence, thematic material involving perilous activity, some sexuality, language and drug material
Tag Line: No rules. No limits.
Starring: Edgar Ramirez, Luke Bracey, Teresa Palmer
Plot: A young FBI agent infiltrates an extraordinary team of extreme sports athletes he suspects of masterminding a string of unprecedented, sophisticated corporate heists. “Point Break” is inspired by the classic 1991 hit.
Running Time: 113 minutesChris:No Dead Presidents? No spendo cashola!Jessica: I found the original boring and this looks even more boring (if that’s possible). I think I fell asleep in despair watching this trailer. All set.

Daddy’s Home (Paramount) – Comedy
PG-13 for language and suggestive material
Tag Line: Family is worth fighting for.Starring: Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Linda Cardellini, Thomas Hayden Church
Plot: A mild-mannered radio executive strives to become the best stepdad to his wife’s two children, but complications ensue when their freewheeling and freeloading real father arrives, forcing him to compete for the affection of the kids.
Running Time: 96 minutes

Jessica:Eh. It had it’s funny moments but not one I’d rush to see.Chris:OK, I laughed most the way through this one. Just might have to check this one out.

Chris:Will Smith plays world reknowned pathologist Dr. Bennet Omalu, and comes across pretty convincing.Jessica:This, this looks FANTASTIC. Will Smith looks dynamic and convincing and it’s a compelling story about fighting for what you believe. I’d see this in the theater but Hateful Eight comes first for me.

Tickets Purchased: Two for The Hateful Eight…another unanimous, even if under-represented, decision!